Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are returning to the UK after six years in America, but they now have what has been described as the perfect excuse to avoid spending Christmas at Sandringham. The Sussexes will make their home in a non-royal residence in the Cotswolds and have already enrolled Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in school. There will be no change to the couple's role and status as non-working members of the Royal Family.
Commentator predicts no Sandringham visit
These plans do not mean they will attend all Royal Family gatherings. On The Sun's Royal Exclusive podcast, royal commentator Victoria Arbiter said the couple might avoid Sandringham this Christmas.
She said: "If I were Harry and Meghan, I'm not sure I'd want to be sitting across the table from someone like Princess Anne just yet. She's very pragmatic, and I think she'd have been very upset about a lot of the things that were said.
"While we're all going to be watching, fascinated and wondering, 'are they going to be on that famous walk to church this Christmas?' I'd be surprised.
"They've got a good excuse to go home and see Grandma Doria, they won't have seen her for a little while. That solves this Christmas and gives them a whole year to work towards next Christmas."
Doria Ragland stays in Los Angeles
Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, will reportedly remain in Los Angeles, with insiders telling TMZ that she is not ready to leave her life or friends behind to move to the UK.
When the Sussexes move back to the UK, it is believed that Meghan will resume acting, having last appeared on legal drama Suits in 2018. Prince Harry will focus on charity work and UK patronages he has retained while living in California, including WellChild and Invictus.
The family is expected to return to the US regularly, as well as use the holiday home they have bought near Melides in Portugal, close to a property bought by Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank.
